Finding Freedom During Lockdown
Update From Jenny, The Starfish Project Founder
Hi Friends!
I want to share an exciting update with you!
It has been one of the most challenging months in the history of Starfish Project yet our amazing team was able to overcome every challenge that was thrown at them. In the first week of May, on a seemingly normal Monday, we were told that due to new covid restrictions in our region everyone had to vacate our office. We had two hours to pack whatever we could to leave for an unspecified amount of time. We quickly made a plan to complete the large order we needed to ship that week, then gave everyone a company computer and an encouraging word and we left.
"It has been one of the most challenging months in the history of Starfish Project yet our amazing team was able to overcome every challenge that was thrown at them."
The following week was a whirlwind of doing our best to keep everyone working. Our vocational training teachers made an online class schedule, and our Holistic Care team began check-ins with each woman. There were online meetings of every kind, meetings in parks (as all restaurants and coffee shops were closed too), and a full production line running at my dining room table. During this first week of pure grit, we had no idea that we would need to sustain our business and our team like this for a full month!
Shelby, our Outreach Manager, and I felt that, although there were extra challenges and higher risks during this time, we should increase our outreach efforts as many of the women still trapped in brothels were in even more desperate situations. So we found creative ways to keep connecting with the women. We even interviewed two new women who were interested in joining Starfish Project in the park next to my home. I am so happy to say, that during this lockdown season, five new women escaped the brothels and joined our headquarters branch and three joined our Riverside branch!
Interveiws in the park and welcoming a new woman by video chat.
“five new women escaped the brothels and joined our headquarters branch and three joined our Riverside branch!”
We have found that when the company is going through challenging times, the women in the brothels are going through even harder times. So even in these very unstable times, we reach out to women still in exploitation to invite them to start a new life by joining our program. That is the work of hope.
I am so thankful for each of you – you make this all possible! Your purchases have such an incredible impact! Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Jenny
Starfish Project Founder and CEO